A Common Spy Problem
A/N: Stuff I've learned from other people on this site:
MyNameIsJeffNImLost – never warn people about the fluff.
Doc in Oz – who needs a plot?
MCdarklydreaming – whenever there's steam, remind people to support KenMar Rescue.
Nervert – I shouldn't write after 1am. Thanks for all you hard work on this chapter, buddy. And I'm sorry, but Ellie buys really large towels.
I don't own Chuck.
Chapter 4
Chuck did not lie. The water temperature was perfect, the bath salts had adequately dissolved and she couldn't remember the last time she saw so many bubbles. Sarah sank back against the side of the tub and closed her eyes, allowing the lavender to attack her senses. She felt all the stress of the last couple of days fade away. After a while she heard the door open and peeked through one eye. She couldn't stop the giggle that escaped.
"Chuck, what are you doing?" He closed the door with an elbow, searching blindly for the closed toilet lid while trying not to drop the clothes he was carrying.
"I brought you something to change into once you're done," he explained, finally finding his target and depositing the t-shirt and boxers.
"Well, in case you have forgotten, and my ego might not survive if you did, you have seen me naked. It's okay to look."
He swallowed and a faint blush rose up from his neck. "I just wasn't sure…I mean we haven't…we're supposed to wait and…"
"Chuck, we made love." Sarah didn't know if it was her verbal acknowledgement of the fact or her use of the L-word that stumped him, but at least he dropped his hand from his eyes. He opened one and then the other.
"Well, you could have just told me that the bubbles covered everything."
Sarah gave him a wicked grin. "Disappointed?"
"A little," he confessed with a smile.
She laughed softly and motioned him closer. "Keep me company?"
Chuck sank down to the floor next to the tub, his back propped up against the shower wall. He rested his elbows on his knees, lacing his fingers together. His expression turned to one of concern. "You're not, are you? Disappointed, I mean. I know you were probably expecting more and I always imagined that I'd make it perfect for you when we finally…"
"Chuck, I was far from disappointed. Trust me." Sarah wanted to say more, but she always had trouble converting her feelings into words.
"Okay, good. That's good, because it was…"
"Explosive?"
He nodded. "Yeah, like unscrewing a soda bottle after shaking it for a bit…" Sarah's mouth fell open and Chuck went red again. "Oh god, sorry, that was inappropriate."
"And a little dirty," Sarah retorted as she stifled a laugh.
"Uhm…yeah, sorry…I didn't mean…I actually wanted to…uhm…that's from Batman." Chuck was clearly uncomfortable and Sarah couldn't help but tease him.
"Somehow I seriously doubt that."
"Yeah, well…you're gonna turn into a prune," he suddenly changed the subject and got up. Sarah thought he was going to leave, but instead he grabbed a towel and held it open. She would have preferred to stay in the bath a little longer, but his arms were just too inviting.
Chuck's eyes stayed mainly on her face, but he was still a guy and Sarah didn't miss him sneaking a peek. Well, three peeks. She smiled inwardly as she took the towel from him and wrapped it around herself. He hadn't moved away and Sarah swallowed and tilted her head. Their eyes caught and held for several moments before Chuck blinked and turned away to retrieve their toothbrushes from the cabinet. Without a word he squeezed toothpaste on both and handed Sarah hers.
She had never tried to brush her teeth and catch her breath simultaneously before, but somehow she managed not to choke. Once they were done Chuck returned the toothbrushes to their spot. Sarah wasn't ready for their private time to end, so when Chuck turned back to her, she decided to make sure he'd done a good job.
He tasted like peppermint and mouthwash. A moan escaped her throat when he returned the gesture, sweeping his tongue over her teeth. After she was done with her inspection, she pulled hers back and flicked the tip against his. Chuck cradled the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. His other hand found its way under the towel and his fingers traced a path down her spine. Sarah shivered at the contact on her bare skin. She wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself. His hand came to rest low on her back and he pressed her body closer to his. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt when he groaned. His hands moved to the back of her thighs, lifting her up to wrap her legs around his waist. He took a step forward and she collided with the bathroom door, a little harder than Chuck had obviously intended.
He lifted his head. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," was all she managed before attacking his lips again. Somehow they both heard 'bathroom sex, awesome' on the other side of the door and pulled away at the same time, staring at each other wide eyed.
"Oh god, they think we're doing it," Chuck whispered.
"Chuck, we are." Or were getting there at least, she thought, suddenly regretting that she hadn't taken him back to her hotel.
After Awesome's comment brought them to their senses, panting and shaken, Sarah toweled herself dry and changed into the clothes Chuck had brought earlier. He insisted on keeping his back turned and Sarah didn't protest, not wanting to add to the temptation. As always, she was mindful that the rest of the house was under constant surveillance, and she really didn't want to give Casey an eyeful, or Beckman any more ammunition, until she'd figured out exactly what she was doing.
Sarah opened the door, made sure the coast was clear and shoved Chuck out before her, in the direction of the bedroom. They had decided on making a quick getaway, rather than facing Chuck's sister and her boyfriend. Calling a 'good night' in the direction of the living room, they reached their destination without being caught. So much for acting normal for the cameras.
Long after they had said a chaste good night and turned the lights off, Sarah was still staring at the ceiling. Chuck had placed a few pillows between them to avoid a 'Paris Hilton incident', but nonetheless, his hand had found hers under the covers, their fingers laced together, and neither of them had let go. Sarah turned her head to study his profile in the reflected moonlight. Ellie had made him get a haircut again. Sarah made a mental note to drop subtle hints that, as his girlfriend, some decisions should pass through her in the future. She just hoped she would be around and available for such consultations.
Sighing, she turned on her back, running possible scenarios through her head. Beckman might reassign her. She could accept that, get on a plane and try and maintain a long distance relationship with Chuck, assuming what he said was true - that he had been lying when he told her he didn't want that. Or she could quit the CIA. Staying with Chuck definitely outweighed leaving him, but both options left her out of the loop when it came to his protection and she would no longer be able to ensure he stayed out of a bunker.
They could run away together, but what kind of life would that be? Chuck would never see his family and friends again and they would never be able to settle down. Plus it would be a temporary solution. Like she told Chuck that morning on the beach, you couldn't outrun the government, especially not when you've committed treason and practically stole the most valuable asset the agency had. It would put a strain on their relationship for as long as they were together and once they got caught, they would be split up for good.
Sarah considered telling both Chuck and Beckman she made a mistake. She could break it off with Chuck and tell the General she had lied. If by some miracle Beckman believed her, she'd get to stay as Chuck's handler, protecting him from rogue agencies, and occasionally, the good guys. But she would lose what she had with him, what they were building, and she wasn't so sure she could go back to how it was before. Even if she could, she ran the risk that he might never forgive her and then they'd never have a future together. A real relationship under the cover one was out of the question. Beckman would keep a closer eye on them, of that much, she was sure.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Sarah was about to send a profanity out to the universe for playing such a cruel joke, when she remembered something Director Graham said the day they met. "Your father taught you well, the CIA can do even better." And they had done just that. Maybe it was time she put her training to use in a way they never had expected.
Satisfied that there was light at the end of the tunnel, which did not belong to an oncoming train, Sarah let out a slow breath. She carefully pulled her hand out of Chuck's and extracted the pillows between them, dropping them quietly to the floor. Turning to Chuck, she draped a leg over his, wrapped her arm around his torso and nestled her nose into his neck. He stirred and mumbled her name, but then enveloped her in his arms and drifted back to sleep. Sarah soon followed.
Sarah awoke when the first rays hit her face. Usually she'd turn without opening her eyes and ensure the alarm clock suffered the brunt of her morning grumpiness, but this morning there was no annoying beeping, and her arms were otherwise occupied. Instead she relaxed and savored the moment. She noticed the moment Chuck's breathing changed, indicating that he was awake.
"Don't open your eyes and turn your head slowly away from the camera," she whispered. He was still too groggy to question her, but at least he obeyed. His stubble scratched her cheek.
"Good morning," he breathed against her ear. "What time is it?"
"Early. Around six I think."
"Then we should probably go back to sleep." He tightened his arms around her. "Or do a little more of this." Sarah was about to respond when the bedroom door suddenly flew open.
"Chuck! Chuck, you've got to help me. It's an emergency." Chuck bolted upright and Sarah's hand immediately found her gun under her pillow, her eyes scanning for the threat that had Ellie so frantic.
"What? What? Ellie, are you okay?"
"No! No! Devon's parents decided to take the Red Eye in from Connecticut to surprise us." Sarah let out a relieved breath and relaxed her grip. Ellie on the other hand was still panicked as she scurried around the room, picking up their discarded clothes.
"You scared the heck out of me. I thought it was life or death." Chuck tried to calm her, but Hurricane Ellie was on a roll.
"It is! These are two perfect parents who raised three perfect boys in a perfect house and this place is a pigsty." With her free hand, Ellie began straightening the covers, despite the fact that the bed was still occupied.
"Don't worry," Chuck tried again, "we have time to clean up. If they flew all night they're gonna wanna sleep all morning."
"Are you kidding me? The awesome apple doesn't fall far from the awesome tree." Sarah couldn't recall the last time she heard Ellie actually call her fiancé that, let alone use the word twice in one sentence.
"Ellie," she started calmly, "why don't you get the living room and I'll clean up in here?" Ellie froze momentarily, her eyes darting between Chuck and Sarah.
"I didn't interrupt anything, did I? Never mind, you don't have time for that now." She was halfway out the door before her head popped in again. "Thank you, Sarah."
Sarah shook her head in amusement, nudging Chuck. "You heard your sister. We better get a move on."
After making sure she'd done her part, Sarah slipped into the bathroom once Chuck was done. She emerged ten minutes later, ready to face the day…and Beckman. She briefly wondered if she couldn't trade Ellie for the Awesomes. Hearing voices in the living room, she made her way down the hall. She stopped in her tracks when she spotted an older, much older, blonde woman engulfing Chuck in a hug.
"You just call me Honey."
Sarah resisted the urge to raise a displeasing eyebrow and with three long strides she was at Chuck's side. He'd manage to extract himself and she slipped an arm around his waist as he started to make introductions. Sarah felt a little silly about her initial reaction, but it was forgotten when she sensed Chuck's uneasiness. Sarah had noticed before that Chuck had a bit of an inferiority complex when he was around Devon and deduced that it must be worse being around even more awesomeness. She gave him a quick squeeze and a smile, before gracefully excusing the two of them and leading Chuck out the door.
"It's not even eight yet and you already saved me once," Chuck quipped when they reached their cars. Sarah just smirked and straightened his tie. "I should probably go. Don't want to unleash the wrath of Emmitt Milbarge. I'll see you tonight for the food tasting." He opened her door and waited for her to get in before gently closing it. "Drive safe."
"You forgot something, sweetie," Sarah called when he was already halfway to the NerdHerder. Chuck turned on his heel.
"What?" he asked as he crouched down next to the Porsche.
Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow. "My goodbye kiss?" A smile broke over Chuck's face when he leaned in through the window and briefly captured her lips. Then he gave her a second kiss before straightening. Now she was ready to face the day.
Next time on A Common Spy Problem:
"So you and the moron are going at it now?"
"Stop calling him that, Casey."
"What can I say? I don't deal too well with competition."
Sarah was taken aback. "But you said you weren't interested."
"I lied," he grunted.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has read this far and a special thank you for all the awesome reviews you guys have left. There will probably not be an update before or by Friday, so remember April Fool's day and have fun! I just did.